Sex minuter längre än spåret innan kliver Maudlin street fram och majestätisk står den där än idag, som en monumental skildring av Morrisseys barndom och en av de absolut bästa texter han någonsin skrivit. Trots (eller kanske tack vare) sina närmare åtta minuter håller den lyssnaren på spänn då texten är fullständigt fantastisk. Inte en textrad känns överflödig, inte en enda rad saknar vad som på engelska kallas wit, och många är direkt rörande (som "I told you it was silly"). Intressant är vad gitarristen Vini Rielli tio år senare hade att säga om natten då låten spelades in; jag är knappast förvånad:
"Going into the night, Mozzer was putting down his vocal, and the whole studio was affected by the atmosphere. It was absolutely for real, everyone felt it and just went very quiet and went to bed very subdued. We didn´t play charades that night, I can tell you."
Den underbara texten:
(talande) Winter...coming
(sjungande) Winter push on
(talande) Push on
(sjungande) Oh, winter push on
(talande) Winter is SO long
(sjungande) Winter moves on
The last night on Maudlin Street: "Goodbye house, goodbye stairs"
I was born here and I was raised here and I took some stick here
Oh...
Love at first sight, it may sound trite, but it's true, you know
I could list the detail of everything you ever wore or said or how you stood the day
As we spent the last night on Maudlin Street: "Goodbye house, forever!"
I never stole a happy hour around here
Where the world's ugliest boy became what you see:
Here I am - the ugliest man
Oooh, the last night on Maudlin Street: "Truly I do love you!"
Oh, truly I do love you
When I sleep with that picture of you framed beside my bed
Oh, it's childish and it's silly
But I think it's you in my room, by the bed
Yes, I told you it was silly
And I know, I took strange pills, but I never meant to hurt you
Oh...oh, truly I love you
Uuuh...
Came home late one night, everyone had gone to bed
But - you know - no-one stays up for you
I had sixteen stitches all around my head
Oh, the last bus I missed to Maudlin Street
So he drove me home in the Van
Complaining: "Women only like me for my mind..."
Sss...
Don't leave your torch behind
A powercut ahead; 1972, you know
And so we crept through the park
No, I cannot steal a pair of jeans off a clothesline for you
But you without clothes - oh, I could not keep a straight face
Me - without clothes? Well, a nation turns its back and gags...
Uhm...I'm packed
I am moving house, a half-life disappears today
With "every hand waves me on" - secretly wishing me gone, er...
Well, I will be soon
Oh...I will be soon
I WILL be soon
I will BE soon
Oh...oh...
Will be soon, I will be soon
Mmm...mmm...I will be soon, I will be soon
There were bad times on Maudlin Street, they took you away in a police car
Inspector - don't you know, don't you care, don't you know about love?
Your gran died, and your mother died, on Maudlin Street
In pain, and ashamed, with never time to say, oh, special things, I know
I took the key from Maudlin Street
Well, it's only bricks and mortar!
Oh...oh, truly I love you
Oh, wherever you are
Wherever you are
Wherever you are, I hope you're singing now
Oh, I do hope, I hope you're singing now
Oh...